Identification device



May 23, 1944. I c, R Mm; 2,349,745

IDENTIFICATION DEVICE Filed Dec. 2, 1941 'INVENTO'R CZa-remoni Robe t m ATILORNEY BY x Patented May 23, 1944 a l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mENmie oN, DEVICE Claremont Robert Morris, New Ybrk, N. Y. Application December 2, 1941, Serial No. 421,294

5 Claims.

This invention relates to identification devices, and more particularly to identification devices applicable to and continuing in use upon tumblerlock keys.

The prevalent and ever-increasing use of tumbler locks has resulted in more and more confusion in location of the proper key from a multiplicity of keys of necessity carried by a person or assembled in a bunch for private or business purposes. Some lock and keys manufacturers have endeavored tolessen the confusion by having a-distinctive formation of the head of the key of their manufacture, but since all keys of. that manufacturer have the same type head, and a person is apt to have several keys of that type, the confusion continues and in instances of agents having keys for all rooms or apartments of a building wherein the same make of lock is employed throughout, the chaos of key identity is insurmountable by common practice of tagging the keys when considered from the standpoint of permanence, legibility, convenience and neatness. While efforts have been made to surmount the difficulties of key identification by devices attached to the keys, those efforts have been,'for

the most part, ineffective for numerous reasons, amongst which may be mentioned the easy and unintentional disassociation of the identification from the key sometimes as a result of removal of the key from its key-ring and sometimes by snagging of a retaining part on the persons clothing thereby pulling the identification loose from the key. Again, the fact exists that a very considerable use of force is soften necessarily applied by the user upon the head of the key when inserting the key in the lock or when operating the key within the lock, and the insecurity of attachment of the identification means upon the head of the key has dislocated said means from the key orso loosened it that removal of the identification means has been chosen as a resort to the lesser of the evils involved. Furthermore, it is neces-,

sary that the user of a key must be able to grip the key firmly so it will not wobble one Way or another when addressing the lock therewith, as a key is frequently used in the dark and direction of shank towardthe lock is governed by thefeel of the key in the users grip.

An object of the present invention is to provide an identification means which overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art and which will effectively solve the problems encountered in identifying keys.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an identification means for keys which 55 is applicable to one of varioussizes of keys and yet enable the key to begripped firmly by the user.

Afurther object of-the invention is to provide an identification means for keys which does not rely upon the key structure as part of the means for locking the device-in assembled condition.

"A still further object of the invention is to provide an identification means for. keys which may b readily applied-and on which the user may (readily indicate desired identification marking.

-Again, an object .of th present invention is to provide an identification means for keys which introduces no sharp edges or other parts productive of increased wear in ones pocket, and utilizes no.parts apt to catch and dislodge or loosen the identification means from the key.

- Additional objects of. theinvention will appear hereinafter bydirect recitation thereof .and by implication from the context.

' Referring tov .the accompanying drawing in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views;

Figures 1 .andZ :are. elevations looking at opposite sidesfof a key to which my invention has been applied; a i f c Figure 3zis a cross-sectionon line III-III of Fig. .1 on a scale.v considerably greater than the showingof Fig.1;

Figure lqis a front elevation of one member of the identification device disassociated from the key;

, Figure 5 is anelevation of the complementary member of the identification device disassociated from other parts and from the key;

Figure 6 is an elevation of the marker member disassociated'from other partstand the key;

Figure 7 is a cross-section similar to the crosssection of Figure 3,..showing a modified constructionof identification device open at both sides of the key;

Figure 8 is a frontfelevation of'body member of the modified construction of Fig. '7, showing said 1 member disassociated'from other members and from .the key; and I Figure 9is an elevation, similar to Fig. 1, showing ainodified shape of identification device upon a"clover-leaf key, and with'a marginal section of the said device-broken away'at' the front of the key t o better showthe shape thereof.

"In-the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in "said drawing, and with attention initially directed-to Figures lto- 6inclusive thereof, the reference numeral 10 designates a key of vention preferably comprises three parts, name- 1 ly, a body portion I4 of greater diameter than the key head and hollowed, as at 15, to receive the key-head therein; also a ring IE to overlie the front margin of the key head and hold the same within the body portion; and lastly, amarker member ll of diameter substantially that of the hollow l5 to overlie the face of the key and exposed in most part through the opening of said ring I6; Next the front of the hollowed portion is an inner peripheral groove or bezel [8 of appropriately tapered cross-section for reception and retention of a tapered .or feather-edge 19 at the extreme periphery of the ring. In front of the bezel, the rim of the body member tapers appropriately for enabling the edge of the ring to be snapped into the bezel with application of force commensurate with the construction and materials employed. Either or both t e body member and rim may be of suitable metal, cellulose derivative or other material adapted to the uses and purposes described. All-exposed edges in use are rounded to avoid parts that will introduce wear in the users pocket.

Body member I4 is here depicted as having a back wall and marginal side wall of generally circular configuration thereby providing a circular hollow 15. Furthermore, next what may be termed the bottom edge of said member, a section of the side wall is cut-away or omitted for passage of the shank of the key therethrough. Above this cut-away part of the side-wall, the back wall is provided with a suitable hole Zll in appropriate location for juxtaposition thereof with the hole l3 in the key when assembled.

Ring [6 in a broad sense constitutes a complementary member to the body member for providing a socket within which the head of the key is retained. It is essential that this complementary part have its major area open so that the pressure of the users finger holding the key will be applied to the head of the key without interposition of the complementary member to lessen that pressure. The user will accordingly have a grip upon the key which will keep the key from wobbling when addressing the key to mentary member together is entirely independent.

of the key, and consequently the device is adaptable for use with keys theheads of which differ considerably as to size and shape. It will ac-, cordingly be now more readily appreciated that the complementary character ofthemember l6 may be accomplished by other than flat rings, the invention contemplating body members and complementary'members which together, form a' socket for the key head and which interlock with,

respect to each other irrespective of the presence of or assistance of the key head.

Marker member I1 is preferably a disc of cardboard or other flexible, inexpensive material of a character suitable for application thereto by the user of desired identifying inscription, as with pen, pencil or otherwise. The margin of the marker member is arranged to underlie the ring so as to be retained in place assembled with the other members and with the key. Said marker member likewise .acts as a washer between the key and ring, and when of cardboard or the like, is sufficiently susceptible to moderate compression as to enable the members to fit snugly and retained firmly in the device. The cardboard marker member may be replaced from time to time if found desirable, and a new one substituted when applying the device upon a different key, the presence of the cardboard again serving a useful purpose in enabling a tool to be worked between the key and ring to spring the ring from the bezel. As shown, the marker member has a hole 2i therein appropriately placed for juxtapositioning over the hole l3 of the key.

The construction of identification device of Figures 7 and 8 differs from that above-described essentially in the provision of a central window opening 22 in the body member 23 opposed to and substantially the same size as the window opening of the complementary member or ring I6, Thi enables a marking member ll identical if so desired with marking member ll, to be applied between the key and body member and exposed through the window opening of said body member.

V In Figure 9, the invention is shown applicable to use of other than circular contours. By way of illustration, a key with a common form of clover-leaf head II' is provided with an identifying device of approximately square shape with the corners of the square rounded. The device, as before, has a rimmed body portion 24 thereby providing a socket for the key which is held by a complementary member 25 presenting a central window opening through which is ex posed the face of a marker member 26 interposed between the key head and the said complementary member. Said marker member is shown with an inscription having been made thereon.

It is to be understood that other modifications both as to construction and use may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, and I do not wish to be interpreted as confining myself to the illustrated embodiments only, except as set forth in the following claims when construed in the light of the prior art.

I claim:

1. An identification device for keys, comprising a body member providing a substantially rigid upstanding wall forming a socket having a forward opening as large as the inner part of e the socket for receiving akey head freely therein, said upstanding wall providing a bezel next the forward opening of said socket, a comple and retained by said complementary member and exposed through said window opening.

2. An identification device for keys, comprising abody member socketed to receive the key head, a complementary member applicable over the margin of the socket, said body member being substantially rigid and said body member and complementary member interlocking one with respect to the other, said body member being cut-away for passage of the key-shank out of the socket and the interlocking of said members maintained by rigidity of said body member, said body member providing a substantially entire back wall and said complementary member providing a window opening opposed to said back wall, and a marker member within said socket and exposed through said window opening.

3. An identification device for keys, comprising a body member socketed to receive the key head, a complementary member applicable over the margin of the socket, said body member being substantially rigid and said body member and complementary member interlocking one with respect to the other, said body member being cut-away for passage of the key-shank out of the socket and the interlocking of said members maintained by rigidity of said body member, said body member and complementary member each providing window openings therein one opposed to the other, and a marker member within said socket and exposed through one of said window openings.

4. An identification device for keys, comprising a body member socketed to receive the key head, a complementary member applicable over the margin of the socket, said body member being substantially rigid and said body member and complementary member interlocking one with respect to the other, said body member being cut-away for passage of the key-shank out of the socket and the interlocking of said mem hers maintained by rigidity of said body member, said body member and complementary member each providing window openings therein one op posed to the other, a marker member within said socket and exposed through one of said Window openings, and another marker member within said socket and exposed through the other of said window openings.

5. An identification device for keys, compris ing a body member providing a substantially rigid upstanding wall forming a socket having a forward opening as large as the inner part of the socket for receiving a key head freely therein, and a complementary member applicable within the said forward opening of said socket and in engagement with said substantially rigid Wall the full peripheral length of said wall, said wall and complementary member having means circumferentially thereof securing one with respect to the other around the full length of said wall forming the socket.

CLAREMON T ROBERT MORRIS. 

